Ralph Lawler went to bed last Thursday night in the Bay Area encouraged by a 98-96 Los Angeles Clippers win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of the first round of the NBA playoffs.

By Saturday, the longtime Clippers broadcaster who has called La Quinta home had convinced himself that the franchise he had covered for so many losing seasons may finally have what it takes to win an NBA title this year.

But before he could get too optimistic, the bombshell dropped.

An audio recording of Clippers owner Donald Sterling making hateful and racially insensitive remarks had begun to spread online like wildfire. Basketball suddenly took a backseat to a much more important issue.

"I turned to my wife and I said, 'This is bad,' " Lawler said. "A half hour later I was like, 'This is really bad.' Then it went from bad to worse to you-can't-believe-how-bad-it-is."

In rather short order, hour-by-hour, day-by-day, the story consumed the organization, the NBA and the world of sports in a way few events have in recent memory. From his seat on press row and with the team throughout the last week, Lawler watched it all unfold.

He describes a dark cloud that hovered over the organization for four days. Instead of players talking about the games, about on-the-court things, they were consumed with the bigger picture. That's all the players talked about. The Clippers, from the players and coaches to the extended staff and ball boys, were all embroiled in the controversy.

The team took the court again in the Bay Area on Sunday, and were blown out 118-97. Basketball was clearly not the priority.

"It was terribly painful, terribly emotional for everybody in the organization," Lawler said. "It was gut-wrenching."

Prior to Tuesday's Game 5 in Los Angeles, extra security was enlisted in the chance of protests getting out of hand. A number of groups had applied for permits from the city to protest outside the arena prior to the game.

Then the NBA and commissioner Adam Silver came down with their ruling, banning Sterling for life and fining him $2.5 million.

Back in L.A., what could have been a disaster became something truly special, Lawler said.

"I haven't heard one person who disagrees with the ruling," Lawler said. "There was not a hint of anger from anybody around the arena. There were people who were out there rejoicing in large number. But no protests, no angry people, no angry signs in the building.

"It was a love fest. It really was."

The Clippers took the court to a standing ovation. Lawler said there was talk at Staples Center that all six NBA teams playing Tuesday night were prepared to boycott if they were not satisfied with Silver's ruling.

Many fans and Clippers staffers wore black shirts in solidarity. One man not far from the court wore one that read, "BLACK AND PROUD." Another had a Clippers logo and read, "Proud to be color blind."

Fans held up signs of a similar sentiment.

"NBA (No Bigots Allowed)"

"End racism!"

"Hate will never win!"

During a moment of silence for former Portland coach Dr. Jack Ramsay, who died Monday, a fan shouted, "Donald Sterling's dead, too!"

Lawler described the players as "weary" from the emotions of the last five days.

But with the ruling, they were no longer distracted.

"I think when they took the court last night around 7:15 or 7:20 for a 7:40 game, it was clear these guys had a different mindset," he said.

The Clippers went on to win 113-103.

Lawler said he spotted a newspaper headline Wednesday that read, "The Clippers: America's team." He admits that is overstating it a bit, but believes it says something about a franchise that has only made the playoffs seven times since 1984.

"I think maybe it's going to galvanize this team and make them a better team as they go forward in the playoffs," Lawler said. "That's hard to imagine, or even explain, with all that has happened since Saturday."

After Donald Sterling's lifetime ban was announced, Los Angeles Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said the team can now "begin the healing process" but the struggle with racial discrimination is far from over.